HC to hear criminal contempt case against Mamata

The Calcutta High court is likely to hear today the case against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for her comments in the state legislative assembly where she said that favourable judgements could be obtained for money. The high court appointed two senior lawyers as amicus curiae to examine the case of criminal contempt against the chief minister and directed that the affidavits filed in this matter so far and other evidence in the case be made available to the two lawyers, the Hindu Business Line reported . [caption id=“attachment_470207” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Will Mamata Banerjee face punishment for her statement? PTI[/caption] The high court had decided to take cognisance and investigate the comments against the judiciary, and in August had asked four media organisations to file affidavits based on their reports of Banerjee’s statements in the state Assembly. Banerjee’s comments had come in to a directive by the state’s human rights commission, which is headed by a former Supreme Court judge, ordered her to pay Rs 50,000 each to a professor of Jadavpur University and his friend for them being arrested over creating and circulating a cartoon of the chief minister. “At times favourable verdicts are given in return for money. These days, judgements are purchased. There is corruption among a section of the judiciary. I know there can be a defamation suit against me for saying this. But this must be said and I am ready to go to jail for saying so,” Banerjee had said. Without naming the judge in charge of the state human rights commission, Banerjee had reportedly said, “We got a very good person… He is not associated with my party or any party… but what happened ? Oh my god! He has no idea! He is writing (orders) as if he is the Supreme Court Chief Justice! Or the President of India. He doesn’t know what is his jurisdiction, his authority.” She had also said she was likely to go to jail for her statements but was prepared to do so. A contempt petition had been filed against the Chief Minister in the Supreme Court as well.